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Does reality seem boring to you? Do you sometimes wish you were somewhere – if not anywhere – else instead? If you answered yes to these two questions, don’t worry, I got you. Even if you answered no, stick around regardless! With this easy-peasy lemon squeezy guide, you shall learn the ways of escapism from yours truly. The lessons taught by this guide are simply life-changing! Recommended by nine out of ten readers!
Hello, I’m Ivo Ribeiro, novice article writer, amateur blogger, and professional escapist with one decade of experience under my belt. And this is my guide to escapism. “What’s escapism?” you may ask. Only the coolest way to escape the world’s troubles. With the power of imagination and the indomitable human spirit, escapism helps you bend reality to your will. Granted, only your reality, but who’s to say what in this world is real and what is not? I mean, this current issue of Polykum aims to analyse that question… kind of. Anyways.
Warping your perception – the cool (and right) way
To warp your own perception and sensations as means to escape certain aspects of reality – that’s what escapism is all about. Now, you might be thinking to yourself: “But Ivo, oh awesome writer of this guide, isn’t what you’re describing the same as taking drugs and certain psychedelic substances?” Yes, I guess. Consumption of drugs may or may not also be considered a method of escapism, but that’s one I totally condemn! Again, everything here involves the sole usage of raw brainpower. Mostly without the aid of other… tools, so to speak.
Without further ado, let us dive into my recommended methods of escapism!
First, we’ve got daydreaming. A classic example. Daydreaming, in my opinion, has got to be one among the most awesome forms of escapism because it stimulates your brain and develops your creativity. Lots of people instantly take their phones and begin doom-scrolling on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts or whatnot, whenever they are reminded of the horrors of existence (or simply whenever they get bored). And while those platforms can contain lots of informative content… let’s be real, most of it is slop. People – no, society as a whole – would be a whole lot better off without… I suppose eighty per cent of the content that’s posted online (and that’s an optimistic estimate, I’d say…)
Through daydreaming we basically entertain ourselves, with brain-dead content appearing in our minds rather than on a screen. However, this serves as a form of meditation, and because all of that content is formed by our own brain, it can be used to explore, study, and understand our own minds better. Just how psychology refers to dreams, it should also refer to daydreams, also to other acts of escapism as well. After all, the way we choose to ignore the grim darkness of life says a lot about us.
Daydreaming, however, can be dangerous. One may not even notice it until it becomes a habit, etched deep into our neurons. Picture this: Someone is saying something, talking to you, and a word or sentence triggers a new daydream sequence. It’s usually something so simple, too. Thoughts shift from the conversation onto this specific keyword or topic, and soon you realise you haven’t been paying attention to the other person’s words at all! I don’t know how often that happens to you, but it sure has happened plenty of times to me. Even during class…
Moving on, the second method of escapism is media. Books, television, music, theater plays, video games. Again, you might be thinking now: “But Ivo, what’s the difference between watching a two-hour film instead of two-hundred-and-forty thirty-second long YouTube Shorts?” My answer is that I am somewhat biased towards short-form internet content… And because this is my guide to escapism, I hereby shall state that browsing social media is bad escapism. Other forms of media are much more likely to contain artistry and genuine humanity within.
Productive escapism?
Either way, this ties nicely into our next and last form of escapism. Consider this the ultimate one. Instead of escaping this sad and boring reality by plunging into the exciting and wonderful ideas of others, you escape into your own. Sounds similar to what I described as daydreaming, but get this: What if… you made something out of those thoughts yourself? In those great moments of boredom (and great despair for the world) you certainly thought of being productive instead of sulking around. So go ahead and actually be productive, be creative! Write down your thoughts, turn them into art! Were you thinking of going somewhere and seeing something, or maybe about a certain topic you’re interested in but haven’t quite mastered yet? Go and learn that thing! Being active in any way at all keeps the mind and body busy, keeping the darkness away.
As this mess of a guide reaches a conclusion, I’ve come to realise that this is not an actual guide on escapism, nor an essay that aims to dissect it and view it through various lenses. No, this article is about me convincing you to have a hobby instead of lazing around! Or rather, it has turned into a reality check for myself (and maybe for you as well).
Because the truth is, I’ve been dreaming about writing this article for so long – for two weeks, I’ve been thinking about it every now and then when I’m bored in class… that I totally left it for the last moment! Yes, dear reader, I shall let you know that it’s been four days since the submission deadline. I’m not very worried, given that there’s still time for the editing process… but that’s not the point! Remember when I wrote daydreaming – and escapism in general – has a huge danger associated with it? The true danger is procrastination.
Kids, here’s my realism tip for you: Don’t postpone for tomorrow what you may still accomplish today.
Get real. Do as I say, not as I do.
